VOL. 10 ISSUE 17 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017
P 15.00 • 20 PAGES
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AT HOME. These pigeons sure know a friendly creature as this bird seed vendor spreads some of his merchandise for a few birds at San Pedro Street on Tuesday morning. Lean Daval Jr.
DOOMED
Rep. Roque says ICC vs. Duterte has no leg to stand on
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ABAYAN Partylist Rep. Harry Roque on Tuesday said the case filed against President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court is doomed to fail. In a statement, Roque cited the principle of complementarity which states that Philippine courts have primary jurisdiction in any complaint for crimes against humanity. Roque further explained that the ICC as a “court of last resort” will only exercise jurisdiction when Philippine courts are unwilling or unable to do so. “It (ICC) was intended to complement, not replace,
national courts in ending the gravest crimes against the international community,” Roque said. “The present threats to have President Duterte indicted in the ICC are not simply political threats against him and his campaign against drugs and criminality -- they are also threats that question Philippine sovereignty,” he added. Roque said the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is already conducting its own investigation on the matter. Roque expressed doubt that the administration’s relentless drug war would qualify as a crime against humanity. “Primarily, to constitute
a crime against humanity, it must be shown that there are acts of murder, persecution, or other prohibited acts, committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population,” Roque said. Roque said he does not see the drug war as a “systematic plan to kill drug personalities.” “The fact that over a million people, including drug surrenderers, have been peacefully placed under the jurisdiction of the State shows that the primary intention has always been simply to end the propagation of illegal drugs in the country,” Roque said.
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Council okays P286M for disaster risk plan By JECIA ANNE OPIANA
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HE City Council has approved the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund Investment Plan for calendar year 2017 during its regular session on Tuesday.
The ordinance is entitled ‘An Ordinance Adopting/Approving the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund Investment for Calendar Year 2017.’ The city council also approved the P286Million allot-
SPORTS Penalosa picks Melindo over Japanese foe
ment for the plan as prepared and approved by the Davao City Disaster Risk reduction and management Council. The allotment was approved on third and final reading during the council’s
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Infanticipating